Datus e



D. E. RUGG.

MUSIC HOLDER.

No. 381,486... Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DATUS E. RUGG, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RITTIE E. RUGG, OF SAME PLACE.

MUS|C-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION iorming part of Letters Patent No. 381,486, dated April 1'7, 1888.

Application filed December 10, 1887. Serial No. 257,547. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DATUS E. RUGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Music-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to improvements in music-holders for pianos and organs; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improveddevice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the slides. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the central sleeve or bearing. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the end caps. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the slotted rotatable tube, showing the position of the spring; and Fig. 7 is a detail section of the slide and the rotatable tube.

Referring particularly to the drawings by letter, A designates the ordinary music-rack, which is hinged to the piano or organ in the usual or any preferred manner. Asmall rod, B, is secured to the front face of the rack and extends longitudinally across the same parallel to and a short distance above the lower edge thereof. At each of the lower corners of the rack I secure a cap, G, which consists of a plate, D, and an arm, E, projecting-from the side edge thereof, nearitslower end,and formed integrally therewith. The arm E isprovided with a circular flange, F, which forms a bearing for the end of the tube L.

At the center of the rack, in the same horizontal plane with the caps C, I secure a sleeve, G,which is provided with the securing-plate H, through which the fastening-screw is inserted into the rack. On its inner face the sleeve is provided with an annular ridge or flange, I, which is cut transversely at J, thereby forming the parallel shoulders K, which run longitudinally of the sleeve.

L L designate two similar tubes, which have their ends resting in the caps O and the opposite ends of the sleeve G. The interior annular tubes are provided with longitudinal slots M,

which are at the lowest points of the tubes when the said tubes are in their normal position.

N designates the slides, which consist of a cylindrical tube or rod, 0, having alongitudi nal rib, P, and from the top or outer side of this rib a plate, Q, extends upward around the tube and to the rod B. These plates may be given any fancy configuration desired and are designed to bear against the sheets of mu= sic and hold the same open at the place de sired. The ribs 1? fit in the slots of the tubes L, and the slides are movable freely along the tubes,beingthereby easily adjusted tothe width of the music book or sheets. The tubes are held normally in such a position that the pressureplates Q will bear against the music-sheets or the rod B by means of coiled springs R,whieh are arranged in the central sleeve, G, and the adjacent ends of the tubes. The ends ofthese springs are engaged, respectively, in the slots M of the tubes and between the parallel shoulders K of the sleeve; and in order that the springs may not become displaced I provide the transverse disks or stops S in the tubes near their inner ends.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my device being thus made known the operation and advantages of the same will, it is thought, be readily understood. When it is desired to hold a musicbook or sheet-music open upon the music-rack, the pressure-plates are turned down or away from the rack, so that the sheets of music may be placed between the same and the rack. When the said pressure'plates are released, they will be at once automatically forced against the music-sheets by the action of the coiled springs. The springs rotate the tubes, and the walls of the slots of the tubes act on the ribs fitting therein to transfer the rotation of the tubes to the slides. Then the device is not employed to hold the music-sheets, the pressure-plates of the slides will bear against the rod B, which thus prevents thesaid plates wearing away the surface of the rack.

In practice I prefer to construct my device in the following manner, to wit: I first take a metal tube of any desirable diameter and out a longitudinal slot therein extending its entire length. I then divide the tube into the two smaller tubes. The bearings for these tubes are formed by three short tubes of a diameter which enables them to slide easily over the twoslotted tubes. One of the collars or bearings thus formed is secured at the center of the rack and one at each end, and'they are raised above the surface of the rack by solder or other means. The division or stop in the central. collar or bearing is formed by soldering a ring or piece of metal within the same. The slides are formed by two tubes of proper size to slide easily in the slotted tubes and having arms or fingers attached thereto. These fingers pass through the slots of the tubes and are so shaped as to come in contact with the music sheets or books at the point desired. I wish it to be understood, however, that I do not confine myself to this particular method ofconstructingthe device, as it is obvious that the same may be varied at will, and that various changes and modifications in the details I of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

7 Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the music-rack, of the slotted rotatable tubes mounted near the lower edge of the same, the slides adjustably mounted'in said tubes, and the pressure-plates carried by said slides and extending through the slots of the tubes, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rack, of the horizontal rod B, secured thereto above and parallel with its lower edge, the rotatable tubes mounted on the rack below said rod,

the pressure-plates carried by said tubes,'and the springs within the tubes normally throwing'the pressure-plates against the rod B, as set forth. 3. The combination, with the rack, of the caps O, secured thereto at the lower corners thereof, the sleeve G at the center of the same, the rotatable tubes mounted in said caps and sleeve, the coiled springs arranged in said sleeve and the ends of the tubes, and the pressure'plates carried by said tubes, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the rack, of the rotatable tubes mounted thereon, having the longitudinal slots M, the slides mounted in said tubes and havingthe ribs P, fitting in the slots M, the pressure plates extending from the said ribs, and the springs mounted in the 7 tubes, substantially as specified.

5. In combination with the slotted rotatable tubes,thepressure-plates carried by the tubes, said plates having a sliding movement on the tubes independent of the rotary movement of the latter, and the spring for actuating said tubes, as set forth.

6. I11 combination with the slotted rotatable tubes, the springs therefor and the pressureplates carried by the tubes, the said pressureplates being adjustable along the tubes, as set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own I have hereto affixed my siguaturein presence of two witnesses.

DATUS E. RUGG.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. ELMENDORF,

ROBERT G; SGHERER. 

